Definition for atonement is: satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.
Christian definition for atonement is: the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.
In the beginning of God’s creation of man, God and man were designed to be one in fellowship and commune together.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself, in Genesis 1:1 we find: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” Well, by the time we get to Genesis 1:26 we read: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Okay, let’s stop and ponder over these initial concepts. Whether you are male or female, regardless of the color of your eyes, hair or skin, you have been created in the image of God; no second class citizens with this story. You will find, as you search the scriptures, that there are a myriad of variations within the mankind specie and, even more exciting is the fact that our Creator wishes to share an eternity with each and every one of us!
Let’s get back to the story, now we left-off where God created the heavens, earth, fish, birds, animals, and mankind. God had and still has a plan for each and every one of us. This plan was created in eternity-past and will be fulfilled in eternity-future. Wow, can you imagine that God knew me prior to my earthly birth and He will continue to know me after my earthly death? Since the Bible also tells us that our God is all-knowing, that means every time we fail (sin) God already knew it and, He also is ready to forgive our sin! I’m beginning to feel that we’re reading the end of the book before we start reading the second chapter. Let’s get back to God’s story.
Once again, as we search the scriptures, we discover that sometime between eternity-past and the creation of mankind; God created angelic beings. Sometime later, Lucifer, one of God’s created angels, along with one third of the other angelic beings, fell from God’s grace. From that time to this, Satan (Lucifer) and his followers have been envious of God and later, His creation, mankind.
Well, I think it’s time to discuss the fall of man, after the creation of mankind namely Adam and Eve; the Serpent (Devil) tempted, first Eve and then quickly Adam followed. Both Adam and Eve disobeyed God. The fall of Adam and Eve was very similar to the fall Satan. In each situation they were driven with the desire to attain equal knowledge with God. Each situation produced sin which produced a separation between God and the sinner. For mankind, the original design to enjoy the oneness of fellowshipping with God was destroyed. Not only was it destroyed for Adam and Eve, but for all of mankind through Adam’s seed.
But the story doesn’t end here, our creator is a loving God, and a perfect God so in order to bridge the wide chasm between a perfect God and sinful mankind, God demanded a perfect sacrifice, an acceptable atonement, a reconciliation between God and mankind.
Mankind was doomed from the sin of Adam and from that first sin we are born with a fallen nature (sin). It is not possible for man alone to present to God an acceptable atonement. So our gracious God resolved this dilemma by sending His Son to be born of the Holy Spirit and a woman, therefore eliminating the sin nature at birth and providing a perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Jesus Christ was and is that perfect sacrifice which is our perfect atonement and our salvation. Our salvation is the perfect ticket to gain access to a Christ-filled eternity with God!
You may ask, whatever happened to all those people prior to the birth of Christ? Once again, searching God’s scriptures, we find God’s plan including the process of atonement through animal sacrifices. This is why, back then, it was extremely important for God’s people to select the most perfect, unblemished animal to be sacrificed.
Today, we don’t need to sacrifice an animal for an atonement, we need to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And, by the way, He was and is the only perfect, sinless, sacrifice for mankind! Now that is God’s only acceptable atonement for each and every one of us.
